Flexible wheel



March 25, 1930. J. J. c. LAROZE FLEXIBLE WHEEL Filed Dec. 1, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 25, 1930. J LARQZE 1,751,929

FLEXIBLE WHEEL Filed Dec. 1, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 25, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFICE JEAN JOSEPH CHARLES LAROZE, OF ST. CLOUD, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR TO THE FRENCH SOCIETY LA ROUE ELASTIQU'E, OF BILLANOOURT, SEINE, FRANCE FLEXIBLE WHEEL Application filed December 1, 1928, Serial No.

the detailed description now to be given with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section of one constructive embodiment of the invention;

a fourth illustrative embodiment of the in vention; and

Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 88 of Fig. 7.

0 connected to the hub, a peripheral cylindrical plate 0 having spoke openings 0 therethrough, and a series of fixed shafts cl supported by plates 0 c ,arms e pivotally supported on shafts (Z,-spokes It articulating at f with arms e,-a rim assembly pivotally connected to spokes h by pins 2' and consisting of a rim support a pair of thin steel rims k ,]fi rigidly connected to support 2' and a rubber rolling surface 7c,and a resilient shock-absorbing system consisting of a series of pulleys d and f loosely mounted on shafts (Z and pins f respectively so that they do not interfere with the free movement of arms 6 and spokes h, and a pair of rubber or similar 323,024, and in. Germany December 10, 1927.

resilient bands Z mounted in the grooves of said pulleys.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that, when one spoke h is forced inward (Fig. 3), the remaining spokes divide the total impact and tend to maintain a substantially circular form for those parts of the rim not in contact wit-h the ground. In the form of wheel illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the general assembly remains the same except for the resilient shock-absorbing system which is here composed of a series of T- shaped elements m having their inner extremities tied together, a series of springs Z and opposite arms of the T hooked over pivot pins (5 and f, springs Z forming a ring having substantially the same function as bands Z in Figs. 1 to 3.

The structure shown in Fig. 6 differsfrom those already described only in the form of resilient shock-absorbing system. Pivots f, instead of reacting on resilient elements of the type of Z in Figs. 1 to 8, or of Z in Figs. 4 and 5, are urged inwardly by a series of chains or cables 72 fastened centrally to a movable drum 0 which is supported concentrically with hub 41!. and reacts thereon through the intermediary of a compression spring Z abutting against stops 9 and p integral with elements at and 0 respectively. Obviously, this form of wheel functions in a manner similar to those already described.

In the device represented in Figs. 7 and 8, the spokes are formed in telescoping sections r and 1. The shortening effect on any single spoke 1 r produced by a peripheral shock, is transmitted by a chain or cable a passing through a ring a rigidly attached to section 7 and to a pair of drums t and t rotatably mounted on hub a and reacting against one another through a spring Z bearing against stops p and p integral with t and 2? respectively, a compensating spring Z being inserted between said stops to reinforce the action of spring Z It is obvious that cable or chain 71 may be fixed at 20 instead of passing therethrough. In this form of wheel, the spokes are, as in the wheels already described, pivotally connected to the rim assembly at z', and sections r 7* of each spoke tend to remain in extended relation under the action of flexible rim k, 70 70 It is to be understood that only 4 spokes have been shown merely to simplify the drawing but that a larger number should be used.

What I claim is 1. A wheel comprising a rim assembly including a substantially circular elastically deformable rim element, a plurality of spokes connected to said rim assembly, said spokes having a portion thereof which is displaceable radially, and means operative to oppose the outward displacement of all but one spoke, when the displaceable portion of said last-named spoke is displacedinwardly.

2. A wheel comprising a rim assembly including a substantially circular elastically deformable rim element, a plurality of spokes connected to said rim assembly, said spokes having a portion thereof displaceable radially, and a resilient assembly operative to oppose the outward displacement of all but one spoke when the displaceable portion of said last-named spoke is displaced inwardly. 3. A wheel comprising a rim assembly, spokes pivotally connected to said rim assembly, a hub-assembly including a pluralityof fixed pins, arms pivotally mounted on said pins, each arm having its free extremity pivotally connected to a spoke, and a resilient assembly operative to exert a centripetal pull on the points connecting the arms to the spokes. y

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification. I Y

JEAN JOSEPH CHARLES LARUZE. 

